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Saturday, January 30, 2016

Farewell Nigeria: A Love Letter From A Nigyptian Girl

Nigyptian Shereen Wardakan

I was planning to write my farewell note a few days later, but walking out of the airport today - I felt my heart crunch. It’s my last time heading from the airport back to my home in Nigeria. It’s getting too real… I’m leaving in a week and it's just so sad. I'll miss living in Nigeria...a lot...but I figure I’ll get over this as I seek new opportunities and I'm motivated by challenges and experiences.

Before I delve into a wonderful future on the back of an amazing past, here's my farewell note to Naija...

They say the whole world conspires for you to get what you really want… well the world did in my case and I came to Naija in 2014 after my first visit in 2009. It was love at first sight.

Dear Naija, those past two years have been the fullest in my life… You actually brought me back to life! I recall all the warnings and sarcasm I got when I asked to move here but for some reason it felt so right and time has proved to me that the heart never lies.

They ask me what I love about you and while I find it difficult to make a straightforward list, I have to say it’s the people, the vibe...the energy. It just felt like home… your people are the friendliest I have ever encountered and they love life

I couldn't and wouldn't ask for more!

On a road trip to Eastern Nigeria in 2014

You are real...with all your chaos and craziness, you stand out with a rich culture that I haven't had enough exploring yet.

Everytime I hear your songs in another part of the world, my heart jumps with joy and I boast that it's a Naija song and that I live there ‪#‎oyashakitibobo‬

There's so much bullshit out there about living in Naija… so here's a bit of perspective.

Through these two years, I never paid a bribe to the policemen who stopped me hundreds of times on the roads. I drove myself all through my stay here and never felt threatened even at very late hours. We would joke and they would let me go in peace. Even when I was at fault, they would end up apologizing to me. Here’s what I think: Nigerians are proud; treat them respectfully, and you’ll be respected right back. They're not harmful or violent (Boko Haram is another story entirely) so stop judging a country for a terrorist group up in the North.

People visit/move in here with a million negative perceptions and ideas and you know what happens...they decide to lock themselves up in those ideas and fail to explore, then they go back and tell people they were miserable and blame it on the country. Sorry dudes...your bad!